Resonator attachment for string instruments



Feb. 8, 1966 BERNARIDI 3,233,495

RESONATOR ATTACHMENT ,FOR STRING INSTRUMENTS Filed Oct. 27, 1964 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH BERNARDI BY WZuM I ATTORNEYS United States P atentO 3,233,495 RESONATOR ATTACHMENT FOR STRING INSTRUMENTS Joseph Bernardi, 5228 Lawton Ava, (ialdand 18, Calif. Filed Oct. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 406,755 8 Claims. (Cl. 84-294) This invention relates to a resonator attachment for string instruments by which the normal sound produced by the vibrating strings is rendered more resonant or resounding to provide a more pleasing tonal quality.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a resonator attachment for string instruments, such as mandolins, ukes, guitars, etc., which, when applied to the instrument, has a highly pleasing resonant effect on the sound produced by the vibrating strings thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an attachment of the class described which also serves to support the hand of a player in proper position to pluck the strings with a pick.

-Still another object of the invention is to provide a musical instrument with resonator attachment of the class described arranged in such a manner that the attachment may be readily applied or removed from the instrument so as to permit the easy replacement of springs.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a resonator attachment arranged to define a substantially sealed sounding chamber partially enclosing the strings of a musical instrument so as to reinforce the sound emanating therefrom.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a resonator attachment in accordance with the present invention as applied to a uke.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken at line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan view on an enlarged scale and with portions broken away illustrating one component of the means for securing the attachment to the uke.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary portion of the sectional view of FIGURE 2, on an enlarged scale, illustrating another component of the securing means and a seal portion of the attachment.

Referring now to the drawing, a uke 11 is provided with a resonator attachment 12 in accordance with the invention. The resonator attachment may as well be applied to string instruments other than a uke, and accordingly no limitations are to be implied from the specific embodiment illustrated and described herein of the application of the attachment to a uke.

The uke 11 includes the usual sound box having a top sounding board 13 with circular opening 14 therein. A fret 16 is mounted upon the sounding board to facilitate securance of the ends of the strings 17, which bridge the opening 14. V

The attachment 12 is arranged to be mounted upon the top sounding board and define therewith a substantially sealed chamber enclosing the fret 16. The chamber extends to the opening 14 and is sealed on all sides except for an opening 18 adjacent the sounding board opening 14 through which the strings 17 extend into the chamber. More particularly, the attachment has a top Wall 19 and marginal wall 21 depending therefrom, the marginal wall having a cut-out region defining the opening 18. The configuration of the top wall may be variously provided,

Patented Feb. 8, 1966 however, the top wall preferably includes a curved end portion 22 generally conformed to the curved end of the uke sounding box and merging smoothly into converging side portions 23, 24 which are interconnected by an end portion 26 having an arcuate notch 27 adapted to be concentric with sounding board opening 14 and partially circumscribe same. The depending marginal wall is of course conformed to the configuration of the top walland the opening 18 is provided adjacent the arcuate notch 27. The juncture of one side portion 24 with end por-- tion 26 is preferably offset longitudinally of the attachment from the juncture of the other side portion with this end portion such that when the attachment is mounted on the top sounding board of the uke, a support is provided adjacent the opening 14 for the hand of a player. The height of the marginal wall 21 in the vicinity of the offset support is such as to properly position a hand supported thereon for plucking of the strings 1'7 with pick.

In order to facilitate sealed mounting of the attachment on the sounding board and provide a substantially sealed sounding chamber, the base of the marginal wall is preferably provided with a resilient seal member such as a rubber plastic gasket 28 having a circular cross section and provided with a notch 29 for engaging the base of the wall. When the resonator attachment is mounted upon the sounding board, the gasket resiliently engages the board to provide a sealed, cushioned juncture thereat.

The resonator attachment may be variously secured to the sounding board, and in this regard the securing means is advantageously of a type which permits the ready removal of the attachment in order to facilitate replacement of the strings 17. In this regard, the securing means preferably includes a pair of clips 31 mounted on the sounding board on opposite sides of the hole 14. The clips are adapted to receive a pair of tabs 32 which project from the base of the marginal wall 21 in the region of end portion 26 on opposite sides of the notch 27. Moreover, the upper faces of the tabs are preferably slightly inclined and the clips are conformed thereto to provide a wedge fit when the tabs are inserted in the clips.

The securing means further includes a substantially rectangular cup shaped member 33 having top, end and side walls, while being open at the bottom and at one end. The member 33 is secused to the sounding board 13 as by means of a bolt 34 and nut 36, the bolt extending 7 through the sounding board and top wall of the member 33. A pair of bushings 37 project longitudinally from the end wall of the member, interiorly thereof, and springs 38 are housed within the bushings. The attachment 12 is in turn provided with a rectangular extension 39 which is adapted to fit into the open end of member 33. The extension is provided with a pair of pins 41 projecting from the end thereof which are adapted to engage the bushings 37 and bear against the springs 38.

Thus it will be appreciated that to apply the resonator attachment 12 to the uke 11 or other instrument, the extension 39 is inserted into the cup member 33 with the pins 41 engaging the springs 38. The attachment is urged against the loading of the springs to a sufficient extent that the tabs 32 may be inserted into the clips 31. The attachment is then released such that the springs force the tabs into full engagement with the clips. The attachment is thus secured to the uke .with the gasket 28 resiliently. engaging the sounding board and providing an air tight seal between the attachment and the board. The attachment thus defines a substantially sealed sounding chamber about a portion of the strings 17 which serves to produce a very pleasing resonant effect upon the sound emanating from the vibrating strings.

In the event it is necessary to replace any of the strings 17, access to the fret 16 is readily facilitated. In this regard, the attachment is merely urged against the loading of springs 3to thus free the tabs 32 from the clips 31 ahd permit removal of the attachment from the uke. The fret 1 6 is then completely accessible to facilitate replacement of the strings.

, What is claimed is:

v In combination with a musical string instrument including asound box having a top sounding board having an opening therein, a fret mounted on the top sounding board, and strings secured to said fret and bridging said opening, a resonator attachment comprising a top Wall and depending marginal wall, said attachment secured to said fingerboard with said marginal wall in engagement therewith and in substantially enclosing relation to said fret and to the portion of said strings between said fret and said opening, said; marginal wall having an. opening traversed by said strings, said attachment defining with said top sounding board a substantially sealed sounding chamber about said portion of said strings.

2. The combination of claim 1 further defined by said marginal wall having a sealing member secured to the base thereof and resiliently engaging said top sounding board.

3. The combination of claim 1, further defined by means for removably securing said attachment to said top sounding board.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said top wall is marginally defined by a curved end portion merging into converging side portions interconnected by a second end portion adjacent said top sounding board opening having an arcuate notch in concentric relation to said opeing and partially circumscribing same with the juncture of one side portion with the second end portion offset longitudinally with respect to the juncture of the second side portion with the second end portion, said marginal wall conformed to the margin of said top wall and having a height in the vicinity of the offset juncture between the first side portion and second end portion to support a hand ofa player upon the adjacent regions of 'the top wall in proper position to pluck said strings bridging said top sounding board opening with a pick.

5. 'In combination with a musical string instrument including a sound box with a top sounding board having an opening therein, a fret mounted on the top sounding board, and strings secured to said fret and bridging said opening, the improvement comprising a resonator attachment including a top wall and depending marginal wall disposed upon said sounding board in substantially enclosing relation to said fret and extending adjacent said sounding board opening, said marginal wall having an opening adjacent said sounding board opening and traversed by said strings, said attachment having tab means projecting outwardly from the base of said marginal wall adjacent said opening thereof, said attachment having a sealing member secured to the base of said marginal wall and resiliently engaging said top sounding board, clip means mounted upon said sounding board adjacent said opening thereof and receiving said tab means of said attachment, and spring loading means carried by said sounding board and resiliently engaging said marginal wall of said attachment at a position opposite said tab means to resiliently retain same in engagement with said clip means.

6. The combinationof claim 5, further defined by said top wall being marginally defined by a curved end portion merging into converging side portions interconnected by a second end portion adjacent said top sounding board opening havingan arcuate notch in concentric relation to said sounding board opening and partially circumscribing same with the juncture of one side portion with the secondend portion offset longitudinally from the juncture of. the second side portion with the second end portion, saidmarginal wall conformed to the mar-gin of said top wall and having a height in the vicinity of the offset junctu-re between the first side portion and second end por-, tion to support a hand of a player upon the adjacent regions of the top wall in proper position to pluck said strings bridging said fingerboard opening with a pick, said tab means projecting from said marginal wall adjacent said second end portion, said spring loading means engaging said marginal wall adjacent the first end portion.

7. In combination with a musical string instrument including a sound box with a top sounding board having an opening therein, a fret mounted on the sounding board, and strings secured to said fret and bridging said opening, the improvement comprising a resonator attachment including a top wall and depending marginal Wall disposed upon said top sounding board in substantially enclosing relation to said fret and extending adjacent said sounding board opening, said top wall marginally defined by a curved end portion merging into converging side.

portions interconnected'by a second end portion adjacent said sounding board opening having an arcuate notch in concentric relation to said sounding board opening and partially circumscribing same with the juncture of one side portion with the second end portion offset longitudinally from the juncture of the second side portion with the second end portion, said marginal wall conformed to the margin of said top wall and having an opening adjacent said arcuate notch traversed by said strings, said marginal wall having a height in the vicinity of the olfset juncture between the first side portion and second end portion to support a hand of a player upon the adjacent regions of the top Wall in proper position to pluck said strings bridging said sounding board opening with a pick, said attachment having a pair of tabs projecting outwardly from the base of said marginal wall adjacent said second end portion on opposite sides of said arcuate notch, said tabs having top faces inclined in the direction of said attachment, said attachment having a substantially rec tangular extension projecting from said marginal wall adjacent said curved end portion, said extension having a air of pins projecting from its free end, said attachment having a sealing member at the base of said marginal wall resiliently. engaging said top sounding board, a pair of clips mounted upon said sounding board on opposite sides of said openingthereof, said clips conformed to said tabs and engaging same in wedge fitting relationship, a cupshaped member having closed and open ends, said cup-- shaped member secured to said sounding board and having a pair of bushings projecting interiorly from the closed end thereof, and springs disposed in said bushings, said extension received in the open end ofsaid cup-shaped member with said pins engaging said bushings and bearing against said springs.

8. A resonator attachment for a musical string instrument having a sounding box with a top sounding board having an opening therein and a fret mounted thereon with strings secured to said fret and bridging said opening, said attachment comprising a top wall and depending marginal wall adapted to overlie said fret and strings and define with said top sounding board a sounding chamber, saidv top wall marginally defined by a curved end portion merging into converging side portions interconnected by a second end portion having an arcuate notch therein for concentric positional relationship to said sounding board opening, the juncture of one side portion of said top wall with thesecond end portion being offset longitudinally from the juncture of the second side portion with the second end portion to provide a support adjacent the arcuate notch for the hand of a player, said marginal wall conformed to the margin of said top wall and having a cutout subjacent said arcuate notch for the passage of said strings from said sounding chamber over said opening, and a sealing member secured to the base of said marginal Wall for resiliently engaging the top sounding board of said instrument.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,207,678 12/1916 Bolander 84294 LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner. 7 0 M. OVERBEY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A MUSICAL STRING INSTRUMENT INCLUDING A SOUND BOX HAVING A TOP SOUNDING BOARD HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN, A FRET MOUNTED ON THE TOP SOUNDING BOARD, AND STRINGS SECURED TO SAID FRET AND BRIDGING SAID OPENING, A RESONATOR ATTACHMENT COMPRISING A TOP WALL AND DEPENDING MARGINAL WALL, SAID ATTACHMENT SECURED TO SAID FINGERBOARD WITH SAID MARGINAL WALL IN ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH AND IN SUBSTANTIALLY ENCLOSING RELATION TO SAID FRET AND TO THE PORTION OF SAID STRINGS BETWEEN SAID FRET AND SAID OPENING, SAID MARGINAL WALL HAVING AN OPENING TRAVERSED BY SAID STRINGS, SAID ATTACHMENT DEFINING WITH SAID TOP SOUNDING BOARD A SUBSTANTIALLY SEALED SOUNDING CHAMBER ABOUT SAID PORTION OF SAID STRINGS. 